Supplements: What I Use to Optimize My Health

Again, what's included here is MY opinion, based on my experience and research. I am NOT a doctor or health care professional. *If you have health concerns, please contact a caring, compassionate, competent medical professional!*

This is a monster topic. I love reading what others use in their own health regimen because I often find nuggets I can use and research, as well as finding insight into how NORMAL feeling NOT NORMAL actually is. Wonderfully, I've reached a level of health in the past year that I've never been at before, and can vouch for how ADDICTIVE it is.

Understand that there are plenty of times I fall short of my goals. What I list here is where I aim. Take it from someone who spent a solid 30 years beating the crap out of herself (not physically, although some of my workouts would suggest otherwise), GUILT and TEARING YOURSELF DOWN DOES NOT HELP!!! Be kind and understanding, be that person for yourself that you wish would have held you up on your worst day, at your weakest moment.

Triguard: This is a natural antibiotic/antiviral/antifungal that I am currently on daily since my bout with meningitis and congenital lyme diagnosis. Otherwise I would only take this as needed.

Vitamin A, 1 drop daily: I take due to my thyroid issue

Vitamin D3, preferably emulsified: I take up to 10k iu daily due to a lab result. I do lower this when I'm outside a lot, and it's optimally taken at night to mimic the time when the body would have naturally synthesized sunshine into vitamin D.

Megasporebiotic: a high grade, shelf stable probiotic (I get it from my doc). I take one cap at night.

Vitamin B6 (25 mg) and doxylamine succinate (25 mg, although as low as 8 mg works for me). Doxy is an OTC sleep aid. This is a relatively new, category A pregnancy thing that PREVENTS morning sickness if taken the night before.

Papaya enzymes after meals, or as needed during pregnancy (this has completely cured my heartburn during this pregnancy!)

SUNSHINE: I aim for 15 minutes a day WITHOUT SUNSCREEN

Salt Water: Okay, not daily, but as often as possible.

Earthing/Grounding: Feet on the ground barefoot, usually when I'm gardening or at the beach. Would be generally when I'm outside but I have two rather large dogs and their piles to watch out for ;)

And now the not-specifically-just-for-pregnancy supplements that I generally add during pregnancy/postpartum/nursing:

Vitamin B6 (25 mg) and doxylamine succinate (25 mg, although as low
as 8 mg works for me). Doxy is an OTC sleep aid. This is a relatively
new, category A pregnancy thing that PREVENTS morning sickness if taken
the night before.

Papaya enzymes after meals, or as needed during pregnancy (this has completely cured my heartburn during this pregnancy!)

Spirulina as needed during pregnancy or after delivery for anemia or iron deficiency

Dessicated liver caps specifically after delivery or when feeling run down

the combo of fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase milk production during nursing

Extra calcium bentonite clay shakes: very useful to absorb some of the toxins baby is exposed to during pregnancy/nursing

Red Raspberry leaf tea: I try to drink one cup daily from about 20 weeks on.

Six dates a day starting around 34 weeks is supposed to shorten labor. I will let you know! But yes, it will be anecdotal.

And my final supplement group, the just-in-case/as-needed/not-at-all-exhaustive supps:

Calcium-magnesium drink: a mix in, but must be titrated to your bowel tolerance.

Glutenease: a supplement I take if I suspect I've been glutened. VERY useful on long road trips or vacations when you're eating out a lot.

B12 spray: I use this for those rough, low energy afternoons

Arnica spray: taken orally or used topically, I use this for bruising, childbirth, surgery recovery, etc.

Raw garlic clove: Toss it in pie hole, chew, swallow. It can burn, so work your way up to a full clove. It's an amazing antibiotic/antiviral, works very well with lung infections.

Turmeric shot: I mix one up and toss it back for headaches. I've used it to release a migraine within 45 minutes.

Xlear: a nasal spray that works very well for irritation, allergies, and infections

Hot as you can stand salt water: use repeatedly for relief from sore throats

Food grade activated charcoal: I mix it in water and chug for food poisoning and stomach flu. Also works great to whiten teeth :)

Elderberry syrup: taken when exposed to a virus, it messes with replication and drastically shortens the life of a virus.

Apple Cider Vinegar shots: Works for allergies, but if I'm run down, often this will help me out too.

Vitamin C: I rarely take this as a vitamin, but will occasionally if none of my 10+ citrus trees have no ripe fruit (oranges, tangerines, clementines, lemons, limes, and THREE kinds of kumquats).

Herbal teas: so many kinds, so many uses!

Essential oils: Again, SO many kinds, so many uses. Research, test out, use responsibly.

Various homeopathics, such as arnica.

HAWAII. Yes, how vague. I consider it a supplement at times because NOTHING works better to get me healthy and keep me healthy than being there!

A quick word on supplementation in general: Real, whole foods are absolutely the BEST way to get your nutrients. There are days that I take my thyroid tab and that's about it...but it's not often. My list is VERY LONG, and it's because I am absolutely determined to (1) Get through this pregnancy, birth, and recovery as healthy as I possibly can be, (2) FULLY recover from a serious immune globulin deficiency, and (3) Give my body EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE THING it could need in order to reverse the damage done by stress and a severe illness in March of 2015 (read more about all of that here). Including emotionally and spiritually ;).

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